Picture or similar frame.



PATENTED DEC. I8, 1906.

W.'I. SHERWOODl1 PICTURE 0R SIMILAR FRAME.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 25. 1908.4

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UNITED STATES iDrnNr orFIon.

YILLIAM I. SHERWOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM VOGEL 8c BROTHERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A FIRM.

PICTURE OR SIMILAR FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application led January 25.1906. Serial No. 297,766.

To ttl whom, it ln/ay concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I. SHER- woOD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York, borough of Manhattan, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture or Similar Frames, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to frames for holding pictures, photographs, price-lists, or menucards and the like and the main object of the same is to provide means whereby such articles may be framed in an easy, substantial, and practicable manner, while the parts may be afterward readily separated.

To attain the objects in view the frame is composed of the fewest and simplest parts possible, consistent with strength and the desired artistic effect to be produced.

By means of the present invention amateurs and others may quickly and reliably mount various flat articles, no matter what may be the size, within reasonable limits, inasmuch as the frame is of springy material and accommodates itself to various sizes and thicknesses.

Generally speaking, the device consists of separable and adjustable parts, preferably of sheet metal or other suitable material, such as Celluloid, and the invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

/Vith reference to the accompanying drawings, showing desirable forms embodying the invention, Figure l is a front elevation of a framed picture, the frame being constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. is a perspective view of one of the side or end pieces or members of the frame in its preferred form. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of one ofthe corner-pieces before it is applied to the other parts of the frame. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a corner-piece as it is bent up when applied to the frame. Fig. 6 is a view illustrative of the method of applying either a side or an end piece or frame member to the parts to be mountedin the frame. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional viewvof one side of a modiiied form of frame and parts mounted therein, being a similar section to Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of one of the frame members constructed in accordance with Fig. 7. modified form of frame member in section. Fig. l() is a blank from which the corner-pieces are struck up.

Referring to Figs. l to 6, inclusive, the frame members, preferably of sheet metal or similar sheet material having a suitable spring action, comprise side members a and end members Z). These frame members are Fig. 9 is a still further each provided with parallel side flanges c d, -f

as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, which project in the same general direction and the free edges of which are separated or spaced a suitable distance apart less than the distance apart of the main bodies of the flanges. vIn consequence of this construction for each frame member there is provided at one side a contracted longitudinal gapor throat c. The preferred manner of applying the frame members to the parts to be framedas, for instance, a photograph f, a backing f and a glass fz-is to iirst apply one end lof a frame member to one corner of the said parts ff f2, so that the corner will enter the open outer end of the gap or throat e. The frame member is then moved longitudinally along the edges of the parts to which it is applied, as indicated in Fig. 6, until the said frame member substantially completes one side of the frame. The frame members are all preferably of a length less than the length of the side to which each is applied, so that they may be successively applied around the four edges of the parts to be mounted, if there be four edges. Obviously the frame members can be applied to any number of edges when of proper length. The parts to be mounted should be of such a combined thickness as that they will spread the iianges c d apart to a certain extent, thereby making use of the spring action of such flanges in clamping or gripping the parts receiving them. To facilitate the application or longitudinal guiding of a frame member, the edge of one of its flanges, as c, which is preferably arched `or trough-shaped in cross-section, is made with a bevel, so as to diverge at each end c. away from such edge, so that the gap at the end of each frame member flares and is wider than at intermediate portions. The arched iiange c, by reason of the springy nature of the frame member, i`s brought to bear snugly and IOC neatly upon the glass f2, if there be a glass. It will be seen that the arched or convexed outer iianges c of the frame members form an ornamental beading at the front of the frame. The said frame members may be made of suitable lengths, and are preferably of such length as that when they are applied to the parts to be mounted they will be slightly separated from or join each other at the corners, but the frame members are not to be permanently secured together, for they should be readily detachable. For the purpose of hiding the joints between the frame members a b, and incidentally for ornamenting or embellishing the frame, corner-pieces, such as g, are applied. Before application these corner-pieces are shaped as shown in Fig. 4, each corner-piece g consisting of arched front portions g, having side Wings g2 extending substantially at right angles therefrom. Each corner-piece is of approximately elbow shape or angular. The arched portions g of each corner-piece g are applied over the correspondingly-arched portions of the frame members a b, so as to be located at the front of the frame, the wings g2 being fitted upon the sides of the frame members and bent inwardly upon the back of the same, so that each corner-piece will have the shape shown in Fig. 5. By reason of their construction and the method of application to the frame members, these corner-pieces will be securely yet removably fixed in position, so that they will form component parts of the complete frame. Obviously these corner-pieces are not essential, although in many cases they may be desirable for securing the greatest efficiency. It will be seen that each cornerpiece has a finishing and reinforcing web p0rtion h, which connects the arched portions g/ and rests flat upon the glass or face of the parts mounted.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a very desirable form of the invention is shown in which the under flange d of each frame member is provided with an edge 0l, turned or bent inwardly toward the opposite fiange. In this manner a grooving kerfing lip is formed for the obvious purpose of plowing or cutting a groove or channel into the soft back of the parts being mounted when the frame member is applied, as indicated in Fig. 6. By the provision of this plowing or grooving lip t not only is a groove formed during the process of mounting the parts, but this construction provides an interlock or tongue-and-groove connection between the frame members and the soft backing, thereby firmly and reliably securing the parts of the frame in position against lateral displacement. Obviously any soft flat object like the backing f will be similarly grooved and interlocked with the frame members when the latter are applied thereto.

A still further modification of the frame member is shown in Fig. 9, in which the same is of circular cross-section, having a part removed at one side to form a contracted throat or gap lc. Such frame members are applied in the same manner as the others, and obviously that flange of each frame member which is at the back of the parts being mounted will cut a groove or channel in the soft back. Corner-pieces of approximate shape may be applied to such frame members, if desired. In Fig. 10 I show a blank from which the corner-pieces g are constructed or struck up.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a picture or similar frame, the combination of separable frame members, of springy material, each having opposing flanges, the edges of which are spaced a less distance apart than the main portions of the flanges, and the front edges having beveled or flaring ends whereby the said edges are adapted to readily open, receive, clamp and grip the opposite sides of the part or parts to be framed.

2. The combination, with a part of soft material to be framed and gripped, of separable frame members of springy material, each having opposing fianges forming clamping and gripping members, with at least one edge turned toward the opposite fiange to form a grooving or kerfing lip whereby an interlock or tongue-and-groove connection is formed between the frame members and the edge portions of the part gripped.

3. In a picture or similar frame, the combination of separable frame members, of,

springy material, each having opposing flanges, the edges of which are spaced a less distance apart than the main portions of the flanges and the front edges having beveledl or flaring ends, whereby the said edges are adapted to readily open, receive, clamp and grip the opposite sides of the part or parts to be framed, and removable corner-pieces applied directly over the ends of the frame members having front portions and side wings, conforming thereto said wings being bent inwardly over and upon the back of the frame members. a l

4. The combination, with a part of soft materialto be framed and gripped, ofseparable frame members of springy mateiial, each having opposing flanges forming clamping and gripping members, with at least one edge turned toward the opposite flange to form grooving or kerfing lips whereby an interlock or tongue-and-groove connection is formed between the frame members and the edge portions of the part gripped, and cornerpieces having front portions and side wings, said wings being bent inwardly over and upon the back of the frame members.

5. The combination, with a part of soft IOO IIO

material to be framed and gripped, of separable frame members of springy material, each having opposing flanges forming clamping and gripping members, one of which isarched in cross-section while the other is provided with an inturned grooving or kerfing lip so that such lips will cut grooves or channels in the said soft part to provide an interlock between the combined parts, the lipped flanges lying in close contact with the said soft part.

6. In combination with a part to be framed, a frame comprising separate frame members, of springy material, each having opposing flanges formed with beveled or flaring ends providing openings to receive the part to be framed and a tongue-and-groove 

